Pressing machine



www

E@ 11%@ sa W. JONES Erm.

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1946 www W. W. .JCDNES HTM.,

PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed. Nov. 29, 1.946

FIG. j

uit@

P. W. .30m-:s Er M PRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29. 19546 3 sheets-sheet`5 FIG. 7 INVENTOR.

PAUL WJNES BYMAUJQJCEGKNOY @lf/nm @Slam/mnd ATTaRNEKg Patented May 30,1950 rREssING MACHINE Paul W. Jones and Maurice G.'Knoy, L a Fayette,

Ind., assignors to 'Rostone Corporation, La Fayette, Ind., a corporationof indiana.

Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. '113,022

13 claims.

This invention relates to `an improved continuous pressing machine forpressing or molding plastic or semi-plastic materials.

Our invention `is particularly concerned with a pressing machine inwhich the material to be of the machine to move with the work or mate-I.

rial being pressed but none of them had been ioundsatisfactcry forsmallmachines demanding relatively high pressures. Hydraulic pressure has`been `used to relieve the `pressure `of the `pressure head ofsuchmachineon the table support, `but such-hydraulic systems require adelicate balancing` of pressures and -in manycases require expensiveequipment to obtain such delicate balancing of pressures. By our kdevicesuch expensive equip- Ament iseliminated and a cheap, economical, smalltmachine is made available. It is therefore an object of our invention toprovide bearing means in a pressing machine using high formingpres-`sures in which the forming pressure is limited only by `the strengthand practicability of the.

. mechanical design, without resorting to hydraulios-and otherV systems.

It is also .an object of our `invention to provide `improved meansforpreventingboth lateral and longitudinal displacement `of the a materialbeing Ipressed during the pressing operation.

`Itis a further obj ect of the invention to provide `a plurality of`continuous `conveyor belts arranged `both horizontally andlongitudinally `forpreventing displacement of i the material duringpressidl'lg` andior feeding the material toand through the a pressingstation.

Our machine can be useduto eitherpress powder into a solid sheetmaterialor can be used .in connection with molds and` particulardesigns.

Other advantages, objects and uses of-our invention will become apparentby referringto the drawings which illustrate one 4practicable machineembodying -our invention. Our machine is described in connection withthe pressing oipowder, ,although it is to be understood that the machineis applicable to pressing awide variety of plastic and semi-plasticmaterials.

pressed is continuously moved and the pressing (CLIS- 5) l2 the type ofpressing Aoperation in which curlinvention is used.

Figure 2 is a perspective v ieW of the machine `particularlyillustrating the means for conveying fthe powdertothe pressing station.Also, Figure 2 is a view partly in cross sectiomillustrating thepressure head andbedplate, showing particularly .the `bearing means forallowing longitudinal Amovement ofthe pressure head and-thebearirlgplate with thepowder during pressing. Figure` 3 isV a side .elevation-incross section particularly illustrating the pressure head `and bed`plate together with the bearing means for allowing longitudinalmovement of the pressure head .and bed plate.

Vligure `4 is `a `cross section taken along -the lines "iof Figure 3.

.Figure `5 shQWS `the ladder bearing assembly which is illustrated inplace in Figure 3.

Figure 6 isa perspective viewpartially in cross :,section, from the` endoppositeto the end illustrated in .Figure showing in more detail thearrangementof the side conveyor belts and the Isides1lpporting-means forpreventing lateral displacement of the material during pressing.

`Figure 7 isa detailed viewoof the side support illustrated in placeinyFigure 6 showing thebearing means used.

`Figure `811s awdetailofuthezmeans for holding 0 thebearing means forthe bedplate` in place during the pressing operation.

Referring particularly to Eigure Lanuendless belt I ll isprovidedlpassing aroundthe two drums `II and l2. Thebelt I movesjin `thedirection "ofthe arrow i3. ,A suitable source of power can 4be supplied`t0 `one of `the drums, forexample, drum I2, which will move the belt loin thedirection oi the arrow'lii. 'I ne pressurel head andthe bed platewhich are ,shown in detail in Figures "Sand 4 are designated generallyby the numeral I4 inFigure `l.` VAFigure l illustrates a pressingoperation in whicha veneer is to be pressed on the outside vof anothermaterial,` and nfor that purpose a veneer hopper I4 is provided which"feedsthe veneer powder onto the continuous belt lo. VAs'utable strikeoff mechanism l5`is p rovidedto level and smooth off the powder prior to'final 4feeding. A main feed hopper I6 isprovvided as well as anotherstrike Aol `mechan ismI'L Thematerial is; passed by means of theAconveyor belt Ill to the pressing station generallyidesignated as I8.Suitable shearingv means I'Qfljor cutting the pressed slab 3| intosections are provided. Also nasuitable runouttabl'efz is provided'forFigure 1 illustrates a dia.granlmatic layout `ofV lSGthe cut slabs3l.

, head 2 5.

Also shown in Figure 1 is prepressing roll l1 which packs and partiallypresses the powder at low pressures into the form or a cake. Theprepressing roll Il is highly desirable and irequently necessary inpressing some materials.

Figure 1 merely illustrates diagrammatically a machine with which ourinvention is concerned and is described primarily in order to properlyorient the particular device of our invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a longitudinal cross section of themachine I3 illustrating the more fundamental parts. Referringparticularly to Figure 2, the endless belt Il] is driven in thedirection of the arrow |3 by means of the power driven drum l2. Drum Iithereby serves as an idler drum. A pair of endless side belts 2| and 22are provided which pass over the horizontally disposed drums 24.Suitable power means can be connected to the drums 24 to drive the sidebelts in the direction of the arrows shown.

The side belts 2| and 22 serve a dual function. They assist the movementof the powdered material to be pressed toward the pressing station |5and prevent lateral displacement of the material being pressed at thepressing station l5 and will be more fully described hereinafter.

A longitudinally moving pressure head, generally designated by thenumeral 25, is provided which cooperates with a longitudinally movingbed plate, generally designated by the numeral 26, in pressing thematerial 29 at the pressing station I8. The belt I9 is supported by thechannel table and frame 21 and the bracing strips 28. Powdered material29 is fed from the hop-` per 30 onto the continuous conveyor belt Illand leveling out the powdered material is not shown in Figure 2. It isillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1 by the numeral Such strike offmeans, such as the horizontally agitated type, are

well known in this art and form no part of our invention.

Pressure applying shoe 32 is attached by the spring and block asemblies33 to the pressure The pressure head 25 is attached by means hereinafterdescribed to vertically reciprocating pressure piston 34, and the piston34 is reciprocated by any source of power application such as ahydraulic press or any suitable mechanical press such as a crank,toggle, screw, knuckle or other type of mechanical press. The particular-press which is attached to the reciprocating pressuring piston 34 formsno part of our invention and any suitable reciprocating press can beused.

The material 29 is moved to the pressure station as hereinbeforedescribed and pressed between the shoe 32 and the belt l5 supported bylongitudinally moving bed plate 25. The shoe 32, and other partsattached rigidly thereto above, and the bed plate 26 move with the work29 while it is being compressed. In other words, the pressing station i8moves with the work during the pressing operation. The details of theconstruction of the longitudinally moving pressure head 25 whichcooperates with the longitudinally moving bed plate 26 are more readilyunderstood by referring to Figures 3 and 4. The bearing assembly isgenerally designated as 35.

Plate 36 of the bearing assembly 35 is rigidly attached to the pistonhead 34 by means of bolts 31. the piston 34 is capable of verticalreciprocation only, and, as heretofore pointed out, its power issupplied by mechanical or hydraulic means, and suitable guide assemblyis provided according to the style of press used. Immediately below theplate 36 bearing rolls 3S are providedinthe retainer ladder assembly 39as illustrated in detail in Figure 5. The longitudinal bearing rollers38 allow the longitudinally moving pressure head 25 to move with thework during the pressing operation. In both Figures 2 and 3 the pressurehead 25 is in pressing position, i. e., the piston 34 is at the end ofits downward stroke and moving pressure head 25, as well as bed plate26, are at the right end limit of their horizontal travel. Upon thepiston 34 being moved vertically upward, as is done between pressingoperations, the spring and bolt assembly 40 and 4| provides a means forreturning the longitudinally moving pressure head 25 back to itsoriginal position in between pressing operations. The springs 49 and 4|compress during the pressing operation when the friction created betweenthe pressure head 25 and the work 29 pulls the head 25 with the work.The longitudinal movement of the pressure head 25 and the bearing ladderassembly 39 is limited by the end plates 42 and 43. Plate 44 supportsthe ladder assembly 39 and fs rigidly attached to the longitudinallymoving pressure head 25. The plate 44 is supported against falling bythe ledges on side plates 45 and 49 as particularly shown in Figure 4.Below plate 44 and attached thereto is the dust and grease shield 47.The shield 4l maintains sliding contact with the members 42, 43, 45 and46. The shoe 32 is rigidly attached to the plate 44 by means of theblocking members 48. As previously described, the shoe 32 makes contactwith the material to be pressed and bears projections which are suitablyadjustable as to shape by means of spring assemblies 33.

Below the material being pressed 29 and the already compacted material3| and below the continuous belt lil is a similal` bearing assembly tothat described in connection with the longitudinally moving pressurehead 25. This assembly is generally designated 49 and is the assemblywhich makes it possible for the bed plate 25 to move with the work.Assembly 49 comprises the dust shield 55, moving plate 5|, longitudinalbearing rollers 52, which are arranged in the ladder assembly 53 similarto the ladder assembly 39 of Figure 5 which is used in thelongitudinally moving pressure head 25. Base plate 54 on which thebearings 52 roll is rigidly attached to the main press base 55 by meansof the bolts 55. End plates 51 and 58 limit the longitudinal movement ofthe bearing assembly 49. The assembly is held in place by the side:plates 59 and 66 (see Figure 4) which are rigidly attached to the mainpress base 55. The main press base 55 is supported by legs or anysuitable during pressing. Thus'we `havedescribed a inachine in which thereclprocable moving-piston 34 applies pressure-on the moving-strip ofmaterial 29 pressing the material into the compact form as illustratedby the numeral 3|.

When Contact with the material 29 is made by theshoe 32 on the'downstroke of the piston 34, the friction of contact pullsl the `shoer3i.'and the moving pressure'head 25, including the sliding platetrl, alongwith the material-29-rwhile the same is being pressed down to `compactedmaterial 3|, Whenthe piston `3tmoves upward on its upstroke, the contactbetweenimaterial 31| and shoe 32 is broken and shoe 32, together withthe assembly above, `is' forced to returnl to its initial startingposition against the stop f4-2i by the action of the spring andboltfassemblies 40 ings 38 and spring assembly 41| `returns the slidableplate 44. Likewise, at the same time spring and bolt assemblies 6|return the roller bearings 52 andthe slidable plate 45| which are part0f the movable bed plate assembly 25.

Beneath traveling belt lil, when pressure from the down stroke to thepiston 34causes suillcient friction between the slidable plate `5| andthe belt Il),` dust guard and plate '5 movewith thebelt ||l` rolling onrollers 52 until the pressure from above ceases withthe upward stroke ofthe piston 34. At this time, plate 5| together with dust i guard 56 arereturned to their starting position against the stop 5T by the springassemblies 6I.

The above represents a `cycle in the operation ofthe device with newmaterial 29' being moved into the pressing Zone I3 by traveling belt lilf between each vertical stroke of the piston head 34. The rollers 38permit the longitudinallyfmoving pressure head 25 to move with the workduring pressing, and rollers 52 permit the-longitudinally moving baseplate 5| to move with the work during pressing, and the springassemblies. All, 4| and 6| return the longitudinally moving pressurehead and bed plate to their initial starting positions in betweenpressing operations. Thus, by a suitable bearing device `wehaveeliminated all complicated and delicately balanced hydraulic systems forpermitting such longitudinal movement of the pressing means during thepressing operation. The amount of" pressure exerted by the pressure headthrough the shoe 32 is only limited by the strength of the rollers andplates and such can be designed to sustain tremendous pressures.

The above description shows friction means for moving the movablepressure head and bed plate during the pressing operation. However, forpressing some materials such as light, fluffy materials, it may berequired to have a positive means for moving the longitudinally movingpressure head 25. Such positive means is particularly shown in Figure 6.A bracket 64` is rigidly attached to the bed plate support` 55. Thebracket 64 has in its inner face a machined socket or cam track whichguides theV pin 65 during` the downward movement of the piston 34. Thepin 65 is rigidly attached to the `blocking members 48. Thus the powerof the downward stroke of the piston 34 forces the shoe 32 and relatedparts attached thereto to follow the work during the pressingoperationand thereby prevents slippage between the work and the shoe 32. It isalso within the scope of this invention to jhave a similar means forpositively moving the movable bed #plate 26 and the sideplate- 68.

Other independent sources ofi` power to perform theseltasksmaybeemployed if desired.

`In some cases, especially wherelthick products are to ber formed andhigh pressure must be used, means must beprovided to prevent lateraldisplacement of the work during the pressing operation. For this purposea pair of bearing assemblies 66 and 61 are provided on oppositesidesi-of the work beingpressed which cooperate l0 with theimovablepressurehead 25 and movable bedplate 26 duringthe pressing operation.The bearing assemblies 66 and 6`| take the `place Yoi' `the sidesupports 62- and 63 shown in Figure 4;

The twoassemblies `|56` and 611 are identical and 15 assembly 66isshovvnin` detail in-Figure '7 Sexv'cept that in` Figure 'Ilthe sideplate 68 has been moved during the pressing operation tothe limit `ofits longitudinal movement. In both Figures 6 and Tthe assembly 66 isshown in horizontal perspective cross section. Suitable dust and greaseprotection shields are provided in a similarmanner as for theladderassemblies 39 and "53 iorthe movable pressure head 25 and the `movablebed plate 26V respectively. A movable side plate 68 is providedimmediately adjacent -the side belt 2| A relativelysmall `ladderassembly 69 is vertically disposed next to theA moving plate 68 andcontains the vertically disposed roller bearingsY 10.` A side supportingmeans for the movable plate-68 and bearing assembly 69 is `providedandit is rigidly attached to the bed plate support 55-bymeans of thebolts 12. Suitable stops 'I3 are provided to limit thelong-itudinalmovement ofthe plate 65- and the ladder bearing assembly`69. Spring assembly 'M returns the plate 68- in between pressingoperations, and the spring assembly l5 returns the ladder assembly 691in a between v pressing operations. Thus we have provided movable sideplates which move with the lwork durin-g the pressing operation andwhich provide additional support for the sidebelts 2| and 22 and preventlate-ral displacement ofthe work 29during the pressing operation.

Figure 8 is a detailed sketch showing the notch ln the side support 63which prevents the belt 2| from lifting and shows a notch in the support59 for preventing the entire assembly of themoving bed plate fromlifting. Figure 8 is adetailed section of a portion of Figure 4.

Some materials during pressing may tend to bepushed ahead on the ibeltliduring the presslng operation and means must be provided to limit thistendency and to provide a means for preventing tosome extent alongitudinal displacement of the work 29 during the pressing operation.The inverted L-shaped members 16 vand 11 shown in Figure 6 serve thispurpose. These members are positioned immediately ad do jacent followingthe pressing of the work in the `pressingstage I8. The members i6 and'Il' provide additional side supports for the belts 2| and 22 andare'shaped so as to converge the side belt, thereby olering resistanceto the pressed material 3| and preventing longitudinal displacement ofthe work during the pressing oper ation. They are also shaped divergingfollowing said converging so that the pressed material 13|is relievedand will readily break away from itheside belts 2| and 22. Other meanssuch as a spring weighted roll or plate, contacting the pressed material3| immediately after the pressing may be used to serve this purpose.

Althoughnot illustrated, a means can 'be-pro- Nfvided to'pull heavymaterials through the mais chin'e by introducing small indentations orholes in the driving belt l0 to engage with matching contours in thedriving pulley l2; or the inside of the driving belt can be coated withya friction material such as a thin nlm of rubber to prevent slippage ofthe belt I0 on the drum I2. A chain driven series of molds, and/or,pallets might also be employed.

If it is desired to impose designs on a suriac of the material beingpressed, the pressing surface of the belt I0 can be so designed toVimpart the design thereon. Veneered products are obtainable by twofeeding stations as shown` in Figure 1. It is also within the scope ofthis invention to change theshape of the shoe 32 to suit therequirements of the material being compressed.

By the above construction we are able to press plastic or semi-plasticmaterial by moving the same in a continuous manner at a. substantiallyconstant speed while applying pressure at a pressure station on thework. The pressing station shifts with the work while the pressure isbeing applied and is retracted to normal position when the pressure isrelieved thereby effecting a compression of the work by successiveincrements.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a pressing machine of the character described a verticalreciprocable pressure means;

a longitudinally moving pressure head slidably attached to said pressuremeans; bearing means disposed between said pressure means and saidpressure head comprising elongated metal rollers adapted to roll withthe longitudinal movement of said pressure head; a longitudinally movingcam follower attached to said pressure head: said cam follower adaptedand arranged in said cam track to cause movement of said pressure headin the direction of travel of said material during the pressingoperation. Y

y5. In a pressing machine of the character described a verticalreciprocable pressure means;l a longitudinally moving pressure headslidably attached to said pressure means; roller bearing means betweenthe pressure means and the pressure head; a longitudinally moving bedplate; a support for said bed plate; said bed plate slidably attached tosaid support; bearing means between said bed plate and said support;said bearing means comprising elongated metal rollers disposed laterallyand adapted to roll with the longitudinal movement of said bed plate;and positive means for moving said pressure head and said Ibed plate ina direction opposite to the direction of movement of the material in theinterval between pressing operations.

6. In a pressing machine of the character described a verticalreciprocable pressure means; a longitudinally moving pressure headslidably attached to said pressure means; bearing means disposed betweensaid pressure means and said pressure head comprising elongated metalrollers laterally disposed and adapted to roll with the longitudinalmovement of said pressure head; a longitudinal movable bed plate; asupport for said bed plate; said bed plate slidably attached d to saidsupport; and bearing means disposed tudinal movement of said lpressurehead and head slidably attached to said pressure means; 5

a pressing shoe attached thereto, roller bearings Idisposed between saidpressure means and said pressure head; a longitudinally movable bedplate; a support for said bed plate; a conveyor for continuously movingthe material to be pressed between said pressure head and said bed platein the direction of the longitudinal move'- ment of said pressurehead;said pressure head adapted to move on said bearing by thev frictioncreated between the material and said pres- .sure head, in the directionof travel of the material during the pressing operation, Yand mechanismto return the pressure head and bed plate to starting position in theinterval between pressing operations. 1

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further defined in that saidrbearing meanscomprises elongated metal rollers alternately spaced apartrin ladderkarrangement by spacers; said rollers adapted to roll between saidspacers with the longitudinal movement of said pressure head during thepressing operation. Y e Y 4. The apparatus of claim l further deilned inthat said positive means comprises means defining a cam track, said,meansbenexedig between Vsaid bed plate and said support and said bedplate comprising elongated metal rollers laterally disposed and adaptedto roll with the longitudinal movement of said bed plate.

7. In a pressing machine of the characte described a-verticalreciprocable pressure means; a longitudinally moving pressure headslidably attached to said pressure means; bearing means disposed betweensaid pressure means and said pressure head comprising elongated metalrollers laterally disposed and adapted to roll with `the longitudinalmovement of said pressure head; a longitudinal movable bed plate, asupport for said bed plate; said bed plate slidably attached to nsaidsupport; bearing means disposed between said ybed plate and saidsupport, said bed plate comprising elongated metal rollers laterallydisposed and adapted to roll with the longitudinal movement of said bedplate; and positive means `for moving said pressure head and said bedplate scribed a vertical reciprocable pressure means; a pressure headslidably attached to said pressure means; bearing means disposed betweensaid 'pressure head and said pressure means for allowing longitudinalmovement of said pressure head; a base support; a bed plate slidablyattached to said ybase support; bearing means dis- 5posed between saidbase support and said bed plate for allowing longitudinal movement ofsaid .bed plate; means for continuously moving ma- 'terial to be pressedover said bed plate and under `said pressure head; a longitudinallymoving side support adjacent and coincident with each side of saidpressure head and said bed plate for lateral confinement of saidmaterial during pressing oflsaid material between said pressure head andsaid bed plate; a support means for said longitudinal support; saidlongitudinal support being slidably attached to said support means;

bearing means disposed between said last mentioned support means andsaid longitudinal support; and all of said bearing means comprisingelongated metal rollers alternately spaced apart in ladder arrangementby spacers, said rollers adapted to roll between said spacers with thelongitudinal movement of said pressure head, said bed plate and saidlongitudinal support during the pressing operation.

9. In a pressing machine of the character described a longitudinallymoving bed plate; a support for said bed plate; a reciprocable andlongitudinal movable pressure head cooperating with said bed plate tocompress said material; means for moving said material to be pressedbetween said pressure head and said bed plate, said pressure head andbed plate being moved by the niaterial in the direction of travel of thematerial during the pressing operation; means for moving the pressurehead and bed plate in. a direction opposite to the direction of movementof the material in the interval between pressing operations; a pair ofcontinuously moving conveyor belts vertically disposed on each side ofand cooperating with said pressure head and said bed plate so as toconne laterally the material being pressed between said ibed plate andsaid pres-- sure head and to assist in the movement of said material topressing position between said bed plate and said pressure head; a pairof inverted L-shaped guide supports attached to said bed plate supportand positioned immediately following the pressing of said material bysaid head and bed plate; said L-shaped guides extending oved saidcontinuous side belts thereby preventing said side belts from beinglifted vertically during the upward movement of said reciprocablepressing head; and said L-shaped side supports iirst converging towardeach other to prevent longitudinal displacement of the material duringthe pressing operation and then diverging away from each other so as tocause said pressed material to break away from said side continuousbelts.

l0. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprisesa cam.

11. The apparatus of claim l having a vertical side support adjacenteach side of said pressure head and said bed plate for coniining saidniaterial during pressing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 having a movable vertical side supportadjacent each side of said pressure head and said bed plate for conningsaid material during pressing, the forward movement of said sidesupports being synchronous with the forward movement of the head and thebed.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 having a vertical side support adjacenteach side of said pressure head and said bed plate for conning saidmaterial during pressing, said side supports comprising verticalcontinuously moving belts.

PAUL W. JONES. MAURICE G. IQTOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,461,940 Schenk July 17, 19231,538,425 Debay May 19, 1925 2,046,047 Watkins June 30, 1936 2,051,011Smith Aug. 1l, 1936 2,194,593 Graham Mar. 26, 1940 2,195,683 Ross et a1.IApr. 2, 1940 2,271,599 Maurer Feb. 3, 1942 2,297,504 Salvaneschi Sept.29, 1942

